Security locking device



March 17, 1970 l. RATNER EI'AL SECURITY LOCKING nmvrcm 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1969 GEORGE I. RATNER ABRAM MARK RATNER dam $744M ATTORNEYS all Ill

March 17, 1970 G. l. RATNER ETAL 3,500,772

SECURITY LOCKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ida,

INVENTORS GEORGE I.RATNER ABRAM MARK RATNER ATTORNEYS March 17, 1970 G. l. RATNER ETAL 3,500,772

SECURITY LOCKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /I 1 R\\\\\\\\ \Z\\\\\\ INVENTORS 19 /6c 1: 26 GEORGE LRATNER ABRAM MARK RATNER 36, 44 Y 29c Z g ATTORNEYS Mal-ch 17, 1970 s. I. RATNER T SECURITY LOCKING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 27, 1969 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,500,772 SECURITY LOCKING DEVICE George I. Ratner, 67 S. Munn Ave East Orange, NJ.

07018, and Abram Mark Ratner, East Orange, N.J.;

said Abram Mark Ratuer assignor to said George I.

Ratner Filed Jan. 27, 1969, Ser. No. 794,237 Int. Cl. Eg 1/00 US. Cl. 109-47 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-contained protection unit for use with a security compartment and a moveable closure therefor for protection of valuables has a traveler mounted for movement longitudinal of the compartment, and spring means for driving the traveler to close and lock the compartment; and ratchet means to latch the traveler at any point to which is is moved thereby to limit opening of the closure, and remotely controlled to release the latch and thereby to free the spring for moving the traveler for an emergency and for unlatching the ratchet to permit use under ordinary conditions. A limit stop may be provided to hold the closure partly open for access to a limited part of the compartment.

This invention relates to a locking system for drawers, doors and the like which give access to cash or other valuable articles or documents.

Cash drawers do not fully protect against armed robbers when there is a clerk or teller in charge because in the course of a holdup, the clerk is usually subjected to fear for his life; and, in general, banks and other business concerns warn their employees not to resist such holdup. It is necessary, therefore, that the drawer be closed and locked automatically or by a clerk unobtrusively actuating a lock.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide security devices of this kind, for example, a Murtaugh Patent No. 2,145,314, the Kramer Patent, 1,774,442, Meunier et al. Patent 2,031,543 and Meilink No. 2,118,382, Knoll 1,654,045, Stinson 1,441,763, Brernmer 2,517,175, James 1,778,857, and Stevens 2,066,655. All of these patents relate to the problem of security of cash drawer or the like and provide means for closing a drawer and latching it closed against bandits or unauthorized personnel who may wish to open the drawer for purposes of theft.

These patents attempt to combine manual operation at the locus of the drawer for its ordinary use with remote control for greater safety.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism by which the drawers can be closed and locked merely by releasing the drawer without the necessity of electricity or pressure fluids etc. For this purpose, the drawers are closed by travelers, preloaded so that they will push the drawer to a closed position when released. However, such a drawer if under full control of the teller or clerk may be no better than a manually closed drawer, as a bandit may force the person in charge to do What is necessary to open it. Moreover, if the drawer closes every time it is released, that may prove more expensive, in lost time of authorized personnel, than the amounts which are risked by the threat of a bandit.

Accordingly, in the present invention, although the drawer is closed automatically when released, this is only in case of emergency. The present invention normally provides a device for holding back to closing spring, which allows the drawer to be open in useable position. It is only upon actuating a release means for the hold-back that the return spring becomes eifective to close the comice partment; and at the same time a locking ratchet is made operative to lock the drawer against re-opening. This hold-release means may be operated electrically by a push-button switch, or hydraulically or mechanically if the manual control is sufiiciently well hidden; and, to this end it may be tied in with the silent alarm system, which calls police.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown several embodiments of our invention and suggested certain additional modifications, these are selected for purposes of instructing others in the design and use of our invention and are not to be taken as exhaustive.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded isometric view from beneath showing a ratchet and traveler mechanism according to our invention; and includes a fragmentary view of co-operating parts at the end of a drawer controlled by it.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the drawer and the ratchet mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, but taken from the side of the spring strip return means.

FIGURE 3 is a reflected plan view of the drawer control mechanism (i.e., as viewed from beneath).

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged reflected plan view of a fragmentary part of FIGURE 3, showing the traveler and its adjustable abutments screws by which it pushes, and is pushed by, the drawer.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view from below, similar to that of FIGURE 1, but showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section taken on line 77 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a bottom isometric view similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 6, but showing still another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, but showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a wiring diagram of an electrical operating, or control, circuit.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 to 5, we have there shown one simple mechanism for carrying out the invention, and other similar mechanisms are shown in FIG- URES 6 to 10. Any of these can be used with a drawer (by which we include also a door or other means for closing other security receptacles).

These mechanisms are shown with a spring attached, not to the drawer, but to a traveler which is pushed by the drawer, when the drawer is first opened, and is pulled back by the spring to close the drawer when a holding ratchet is released. Combined with this traveler mechanism is a pair of ratchet devices which delimit the location of the traveler to positions in which, respectively, it holds the traveler in position to permit ordinary use or in which it blocks the drawer by locking the traveler against opening further and holds any closing movement which has been imparted to it.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a fragment of a housing or cabinet 10 is shown in which the cash drawer 12 is located (shown broken away) and runs on the usual tracks (not shown). The drawer 12, advantageously, is slidably mounted on antifriction rollers, as is customary in ofiice equipment.

0n the front of the drawer is a handle 14; and a yoke 16 of sheet metal is secured to the back of the drawer, so that its upper ends stand above the adjoining height of the drawer. As best shown in FIGURE 1, the upper ends of the yoke 16, are laterally spaced apart, so as to allow 3 the barrel or coil 19 of return spring 18 to pass between them when the drawer is being opened and closed.

The assembly 20 (FIGURES 1 and 3) is secured to the housing at the top of the space for the drawer 12, e.g., by welds or bolts 22, etc., and the abutment yoke 16 is likewise secured to the rear end of the drawer 12 by welds, bolts or sheet metal screws 22, or other suitable fastenings.

The assembly 20, best shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, comprises a double channel frame 24 having at opposite sides channels 25 and 26, respectively. Between these ratchet channels 25' and 26 is a dovetail track 28 on which is a traveler 29 with block 30 slidable along it. A T-bar pawl 32 with its ends oppositely beveled to fit teeth 25 and 26, respectively, is slidably fitted in a transverse slot in block 30.

The block 30 is recessed to receive the centered perpendicular leg of its T and springs 34 on each side of it. Thus, the T-bar pawl 32 is resiliently centered but moveable toward each side, and thus acts as a springpressed pawl with respect to either of the ratchets 25 and 26 against which it is pressed.

A crossbar 35 is on the traveler 29 above, and with its lateral ends beyond the block 30. In the ends of this crossbar, respectively, are abutment bolts 36 which extend beyond the traveler to abut against the drawer 12 or a part attached to it, e.g., the yoke 16. By adjusting these screws the stopping position of the drawer can be located to assure ready engagement of the ratchet for locking.

These abutment bolts 36 may be bare as shown in FIGURE 1, or, as shown in FIGURE 4, may have cap nuts over their ends to protect the threads and give a broader abutment surface and, if of shock absorbing material, to damp out noise of striking the abutment.

The inner end of a coil 19 of thin spring steel ribbon 18, e.g., about .020" thick, is engaged on the spool 19 at its inner end and wound on it, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, by its own inherent coiling tendency. Brackets 33, in which the arbor of drum 19 is mounted, are secured to the frame 24 or some part fastened thereon. The opposite end of this spring runs along the track 28 and engages the traveler 29.

When the drawer is pulled out, the feet 16 on its yoke engage the abutment bolts 36 and pull the traveler 29 along the track 28, extending the return spring 18. As with the carriage return spring on a typewriter or billing machine, etc., when the traveler is released, the spring 18 tends to pull it back into closed position, but the pawl 32, engaging on the ratchet 26, will hold the traveler out; so that the force of the spring is held by the ratchet and not applied against the drawer.

Fluid pressure may be supplied through nipple 37, to elastic bag motor 38 to shift the ratchet assembly and thereby to engage the holding ratchet 26 and disengage the locking ratchet 25. Such pressure may be supplied from a remote source through tubing, but as that can be according to accepted design principles, it is not shown on our drawings. Less advantageously, a solenoid and wiring from a source of electric power may be used instead of the fluid pressure motor and piping.

Thus, the drawer can be put to normal use, pushed in and pulled out at will. In case of any emergency that requires the drawer to be locked, and, in any case, at the end of the day, fiuid pressure may be cut off to the elastic tube 38. The elastic tube 38 constitutes a pressure bag, which, when inflated by the fluid pressure, acts as a motor to move the ratchet bar 26 into engagement with the pawl 32, and when deflated disengages 26 and engages 25.

The ratchets 25 and 26 in FIGURES 1 to are joined together by end bars 40 at both ends, making a rigid rectangular frame and thus when the pressure bag 38 is inflated to move the holding ratchet bar 26 into engagement with the pawl 32, the locking ratchet bar 25 is moved out of engagement and the springs 42 behind it 4 in the channel 25' are compressed. In this condition, the traveler 29 is locked back by the holding ratchet 26 and the drawer may, therefore, be moved back and forth at will within the limit established by the locked position of the traveler 29.

If pressure is vented from the bag 38, either intentionally or accidentally, the springs 42 will push the ratchet frame laterally, disengaging the holding ratchet from the pawl 32 and pushing the locking ratchet 25 against the pawl.

As soon as the pawl is disengaged from the holding ratchet, the spring 18 pulls the traveler 29 back, pushing the drawer 12 ahead of it. The teeth of the ratchet 25, being faced toward the spring barrel 19, allow the pawl 32 to pass over them during this retraction; and the abutment screws 36 abut against the drawer (or its projections 16) and thus push the drawer closed.

At any position which the traveler reaches, the locking ratchet 25 will hold against pulling the drawer back out. Ordinarily, the drawer will be completely closed and will be locked in that position by the ratchet; but if anything should block it, such as papers or articles projecting upward from the drawer, or the operator holding it back, etc., that does not prevent the lock from holding the drawer at the most nearly closed position which it has reached.

It will be observed that the device just described is self-contained and ready to be installed in any cabinet, etc., and, because of its shallow dimension, with mounting of its mechanism in the top of the space occupied by the drawer. As will be readily appreciated, this device can also be used on doors or other closures to protect safe-deposit boxes or chambers of various kinds. It can be mounted in almost any desk or counter or other ofiice appliance or furniture having a closure such as a drawer or door for containing valuables.

The spring 18 requires the most depth in the device, as shown; and if it should be that this interferes with the mounting of the drawer, a fiat arm spring or fiat helix can be substituted, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In view of the advantages of the barrel spring shown at 18, however, we have preferred to use this; and, in order to take advantage of all the headroom available in the drawer space, we have designed the yoke 16 so that its legs project upward on each side of the spring 18 and allow the drawer to pass the barrel 19, and go to its fully closed position.

Instead of this, we may also make the bolts 36 push directly against the back of the drawer 12 and cut a notch in the back of the drawer to allow the spring 18 to pass.

In order to protect tellers and clerks, etc., against retaliation, the operation of the device is as silent as possible; and to this end the foot of the pawl 32, 32a, etc., may advantageously be soled with a rubber or felt strip. It sometimes is desirable to allow access to the front of the drawer, even though the drawer as a whole has been locked by our device. Stop 41 is provided for this purpose. As shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, it is a Phillips hand screw engaged in a threaded hole 41' (FIG- URE 1) in track 28. Thus, the screw when in position blocks the traveler and therefore the closing of the drawer at a position such that a bandit or a clerk under threats can get a hand under the front compartment or tray 13 and take out money which it may contain. A rear compartment or tray 15 is not accessible and the stop 41 holds the drawer in a position such that tray 13 cannot be lifted out. This may also help in some holdups by permitting the bandit, or the teller under his threats, to clear out whatever is exposed in the front of the drawer and take that away promptlya bird in hand is worth two in the bush. This can be used, of course, with any embodiment of our invention. When this is not desired, the bolt 41 can be removed and the traveler 29 can then move along the full length of the track 28.

In FIGURES 6 and- 7, we have shown an alternative drive structure. In this case, we have again used a flat ribbon spring coiled as in FIGURE 1; but in this case, longitudinally extensible pressure motor 38a provided with a pressure fluid supply pipe 39a axially connected through the rigid head 43 at the rear (anchored) end of the motor bag 38a. The pressure fluid fed through pipe 39a causes extension of the bellows bag and drives the traveler 29a forward. Pressure fluid may be bled off from the other end of the bellows through pipe 39a or other passage to a motor cylinder 47, retracting pawl 32a from track 25a, when the system is in operating condition, or for other purpose. This may be done through a passage 48 drilled through the connection 45 and a short tube 45 connected thereto and to motor cylinder 47.

The pressure bag 38a in this form of the invention is advantageously in a form similar to a Sylphon bellows, or to the bellows of an aneroid barometer, but will ordinarily be made of an elastomer rather than of elastic metal, although either is feasible.

This bag is longitudinally extensible, but relatively nonstretchable circumferentially; and is advantageously positioned within a protective tube 44 of material sufficiently strong and rigid to support the tube against expansive pressure within it. As shown, the tube is slit longitudinally for passage of the connecting leg 45 laterally ex tending from traveler 29a and carrying the rigid head 46 for the front end of tube 38a. The inside of this slit tube 44 is made smooth, and advantageously of material which has a low friction resistance with the edges of the bellows 38a and with the head 46.

Advantageously, the tube 44 is also made with its slit 45 sufficiently narrow so that the pressure within the tube does not cause the bag to bulge through the slit, but has an easy sliding fit with the drive connection 45 extending laterally from the cap 46 on the traveler 29a at the front end of bag 38a, or 45b or 45c with the pawl 32bor 320.

As in the embodiment described above, it is desirable to release the ratchet by remote control through the medium of fluid pressure, electricity, etc. This is provided for in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 by the power lift, for the ratchet 32a, 47, 48; and this takes the place of the holding ratchet in other embodiments, as the air pressure holds the bag 38a extended until the air is released. The traveler 29a in FIGURES 6 and 7 carries the pawl 32a pivotally mounted on a pin 49 so that the pawl engages, or rides back over, the ratchet track 25a.

Depending from the front edge of the traveler 29a is a crossbar 35a in which is mounted one or more abutment bolts 36a which, like the bolts 36 of FIGURES 1 to 4, are designed to engage the drawer 12 or pro ections 16 therefrom, so as to push the drawer ahead of them when the traveler is retracted, thus to close the drawer, while pawl and ratchet 32a, 25a act to hold the limiting position of the traveler, thus in effect locking the drawer.

FIGURES 8 to show other embodiments of our invention which are quite similar to that of FIGURES 2 and 6. The spuring 18b is a ribbon spring rolled into a barrel 19b like those of FIGURES 1 to 7; but the barrel and tangential part of the spring are tipped over so that the spring is vertical, and the axis of the barrel likewise is vertical. The ratchet also is arranged with vertical faces as in FIGURES 1 to 5.

As in the case of the other figures, the traveler 29b slides on the dovetail track 28b. The pawl 32b is slidably moun ed in the traveler 29b as shown, and is pressed against the ratchet by coil spring 34b; but the outer end of this pawl which engages the ratchet is, as best shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, formed with one-half beveled in one direction and the other half in the other direction, so that, as illustrated by FIGURES 9 and 10, the same pawl can co-operate with either of two ratchets which face in opposite directions; and, therefore, a simple shift of the pawl from one to the other ratchet changes from a loading ratchet to a holding ratchet.

The shift in one direction is effected, in FIGURE 9, by fluid pressure admitted through inlet nipple 37b, which inflates the elastic tube 38b, and drives the ratchet bars 25b and 26b around in the tube 44b. (The rotated position of the parts is shown on FIGURES 9 and 10 by dot-dash lines.) A spring 42b drives the ratchet bars back in the opposite direction of rotation. Thus, as with FIG- URES 1 to 5, when the drawer is first pulled out, it pushes the traveler 29b ahead of it, by virtue of the abutment screw 36b; and, to whatever extent it is pushed out, the traveler will be held thereby the loading ratchet 26b, so that the drawer can be pushed in and pulled out at will; but, if there is danger of robbery, this device and all others like it in the same office or building or group of buildings, can be quickly closed, and locked against opening, by means of the locking ratchet 25b. This is achieved by deflating tube 38b or venting its pressure, which brings the locking ratchet 25b into position to be engaged by the pawl 32b; and, as the traveler 29b is no longer held in its extended position, the spring 18b pulls the traveler back and with it the drawer which is engaged and pushed along by the abutment screws 36b.

In FIGURE 10 the operation is as described in connection with FIGURE 9, except that it has no pneumatic shift. Instead of the air motor 38b to rotate the ratchet members 25b-26b, mechanical linkage 38c is provided, which can be driven by well known mechanical means or by solenoid or air motor. In other respects the structure of FIGURE 10 is substantially similar to that of FIGURES 8 and 9.

In FIGURE 11, is shown a wiring diagram of one installation embodying our invention. The terminals A and B are connected to the usual domestic AC voltage line. The AC line voltage is converted to a lower DC voltage which is advantageous for our use.

Although AC power is utilized and converted in our invention to a low voltage DC, it is also advantageous to supply battery power at this same DC voltage to serve as emergency power in case of AC power interruptions. Both sources of power may be controlled by a dual section (2 pole) switch S-lA and S-1B, which are operated together to turn both power sources ON or OFF simultaneously; and both circuits are fused by F-1 and F-2, respectively. A lamp L-1 is used as an indicator to show that there is AC voltage on the power line A-B to terminals C-1 and C-3 (primary) of transformer T-l.

The primary winding of the step-down transformer T4 is connected across the line A-B; and the secondary windings (C5C7 and C6C8) are preferably proportioned to give twelve volts in each secondary winding. Both windings (C-5C-7 and C6C8) are provided with a diode D-1 and D-Z, respectively, so that the combination forms a full-wave rectifier, each of the secondary windings giving an induced current during one-half wave. One side of these rectifiers is grounded and the other side of each rectifier is connected to one secondary winding of T-l. The common terminal D is connected through fuse F-3 to a contact C-15 in the relay R1 and to the coil K-1.

Assuming that the power line is live and connected, the rectified current will flow through the coil K-1 of relay R-1 and this will close each of the relay switches: C11 to C-15 and C12 to C17 and C-13 to C-19.

The twelve volt DC current from diodes D-1 and D-2 must pass through fuse F-3, contacts C-15 and C-11 of relay R-1 and along the control power line F. This control power will be tapped off through contacts C-13 to C-19 in relay R-1 to contact C23 of the buzzer re-set switch S-2.

Normally 8-2 is thrown so as to connect C-22 to C-21 and in this condition no power is applied to the coil B-1 of the buzzer. Should normal AC line voltage be interrupted, K-1 will de-energize and battery power will be applied through fuse F-Z to contact C-14 of relay R-1- and through C-14 to C-11 and then through C-13 to C-18 of relay R-1. This current will then pass from contact C-22 to C-21 of S-2 and power will now be applied to coil B-l of the buzzer. The buzzer will sound to alert personnel that emergency power is being provided by the batteries. Having alerted personnel, by throwing the switch 8-2, the buzzer can now be deactivated at will. When line power again becomes available, relay R-l will again activate and the buzzer will once again sound to alert personnel that battery power is no longer being utilized. Returning 8-2 to its original position (C-21 connected to C22) will again stop the buzzer from sounding.

When current flows in line F, it will energize lamp L-3 (control power light) passing current through it to ground. Twelve volts DC control power will be on line F from the relay contacts C-11 to the terminal connector H and this power will then go through one or more of a series of normally closed circuits H] which are indicated by the dotted line between terminals H and J on the diagram.

Control power (normally twelve volts) will also be connected to contacts C31 and C-32 of relay R-2 and C41 of switch S3.

If S-3 (a key lock momentary contact switch) is momentarily closed at the contacts 041- to C-42, the terminal T-10 of the relay winding K-Z will be charged with the twelve volts DC control power and this power will pass through K-2 from T-10 to T-11 and then to ground, thereby activating relay K-2.

Activation of K-2 closes contacts C-31 to C-35, C-32 to C-37, and C-33 to C-39. If twelve volts DC is present at terminal J, current will then pass to and through contacts C-33 to C-39 and the solenoid coil of relay K-Z. Therefore, if switch 5-3 is open at contacts C-41 to -42, K-2 will remain activated by current coming through C-33 to 0-39 and to K-2. With K-2 activated, control power (twelve volts DC) will also pass through the light L4 to ground, and the signal lamp L-4 will be lighted. Also, the control power will pass through the coil of solenoid K-3 which controls the valve or valves in fluid pressure lines 37, 39, etc., which supply pressure for operating the bellows motor 38a (FIGURE 6) and pressure bags 38, 38b, etc. (FIGURE and FIGURE 8).

When the alarm or activating circuits represented by the dotted line between H and J on FIGURE 11 are open, NO current will flow through terminals C-33 to the winding of relay K-2. The only way that K-2 can be re-energized is by momentarily closing the key switch 8-3.

If power is lost in either the AC primary circuit or in the rectified secondary circuit, so that no twelve volt DC current reaches the coil K-l, relay R-l will be deactivated and the contact arms will switch and signal lamp L-2 Will be lighted. Thus, the contact C-11 will be switched from C-15 to C-14, whereby twelve volt DC battery power from fuse F-2 will pass through the contacts C-14 to 0-11 of relay R-l onto power line F, the twelve volt DC control power.

A twelve volt DC battery input from fuse F-2 will then pass from contact C-16 to C-12 of relay R-1, and through the lamp L-2 (emergency control power light) to ground, thus lighting the lamp to show that emergency battery power is being utilized.

The network consisting of diode D-3, condenser COND1, and resistor RES-1 is for the purpose of delaying the deactivation of relay R-2. This will allow the control power source to be switched by relay R-l from AC line power to DC battery power or in reverse without de-energizing K-Z and K-3.

If desired, key lock switch S-3 may be replaced by a timer switch or a series of single pole, double throw switches positioned to perform the same function.

It will be noted that the security control device shown in FIGURES l to 5 inclusive is designed for closures which will be opened by hand or power and thereafter held by the control device of the invention. This, of course, means that for ordinary operations the drawer must be in condition such that it can be opened by the employee who is using it; and, for this, the fluid pressure and power will both be on. The drawer can be opened only when the system is prepared for it, especially when both fluid pressure and electricity are on.

When fluid pressure is lost (i.e., deflated), the drawer cannot be unlocked and thus it is fail safe.

It is only when there is danger of robbery that this device is released for closure by the spring 18 or other automatic closing mechanism. No provision is made for opening drawers automatically from a central point, but only for preparing the system to permit the drawers to be opened and for closing, either locally or from a central control, e.g., by venting fluid pressure, e.g., from 38 in the device in FIGURE 1 or by electricity as shown in FIGURE 11. The key switch S3 is used to put fluid pressure into the system, by controlling solenoid valves or electric pumps or merely to actuate the system directly by electric power. The system is prepared for operation by a central control, e.g., a fluid pressure valve or electric switch. Breaking the circuit or releasing the pressure closes all the drawers and other security closures in the system. Obviously, there are many other embodiments of our invention, which will be apparent to others skilled in the art, by which the advantages of the inventions will be attained. It is the intention to cover those in this patent as set forth in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. A security control device for receptacles for protection of valuables which comprises:

(a) closure means for the receptacle;

( b) a track for guiding said closure in opening and closing;

(c) a locking ratchet extending along said track adjacent thereto, with the locking face of its tooth faced in the direction of closing movement;

(d) a traveler moveable on said track along the ratchet on a path obstructed by the closure when it is between closed and open positions;

(e) a pawl on the traveler adapted to engage the ratchet to lock the traveler against movement along the track in the opening direction;

(f) resilient means urging the traveler to the limit of its travel in the closing direction;

(g) means for releasing engagement between the pawl and the ratchet to free the traveler for return by the resilient means;

(h) abutment means on said traveler for abutting the receptacle closure means and pushing it toward the closed position.

2. A security control device as defined in claim 1 which further comprises:

(a) a holding ratchet oppositely directed with respect to the first-named ratchet and (b) a pawl on said traveler adapted to engage the outwardly facing teeth of the holding ratchet, whereby to hold the traveler in an outward position against the returning force of the resilient means, whereby the traveler will be held in position to limit opening movement of the closure means but to permit it free movement back and forth on the track within said limit, and

(0) means to engage said holding ratchet with its pawl when the locking ratchet is disengaged from its pawl.

3. A security control device as defined in claim 2 in which the pawls are on opposite sides of said traveler and moveable laterally through a'transverse keyway in the traveler to engage one or the other of said ratchets; and said ratchets are positioned on opposite sides of the traveler parallel to the track by substantially rigid tie means combining them in a substantially rectangular frame, and means for shifting said frame laterally to press one or the other of said ratchets against its pawl.

4. A security control device as defined in claim 2 in which the abutment means are adjustably mounted in said traveler for adjustment toward and back from the closure to push it farther or not so far.

5. A security control device as defined in claim 1 which further includes resilient means urging the ratchet toward the traveler and its pawl thereon, and fluid pressure means for releasing the ratchet from the pawl by driving it against the urging of said resilient means.

6. A security control device for use with office furniture having receptacles for valuables and closure means relatively moveable with respect to the receptacle and adapted to close the receptacle against theft or to permit opening for normal use, which comprises a base plate adapted to be secured to the ceiling of the receptacle in space not ordinarily used, a track depending from said base adapted to support and guide a traveler and defining a path of travel for said closure means in opening and closing the receptacle, a traveler slidably mounted on said track adapted to engage it for sliding support thereon and to engage, and be engaged by, said closure in its travel between open and closed positions, and means for locking said traveler in position to block opening of said closure which would be sufiicient to give access to the valuables in the receptacle.

7. A security control device as defined in claim 6 which further comprises resilient return means connected to the traveler to assure return of the traveler to its closed position and a fluid pressure motor adapted to drive the traveler to its open position, extending the resilient means by said travel, whereby the resilient means, when released from drive of such motor, drives the closure to its closed position with respect to said receptacle.

8. A security control device as defined in claim 7 which further comprises a removeable stop adapted to hold the traveler at a position in which the receptacle is only partially open, and the receptacle has a partition located to prevent access to the part of the receptacle which is not exposed in said partially open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,241,093 9/1917 Collings 10945 1,654,045 12/ 1927 Howell 10947 1,774,442 8/ 1930 Kramer 10947 1,778,857 10/ 1930 James 10947 2,031,543 2/1936 Meunier et al. 10947 2,066,655 1/ 1937 Stevens 10947 X 2,118,382 5/1938 Meilink 10947 2,145,314 1/1939 Murtaugh 10947 2,171,263 8/1939 Bremer 10947 X 2,517,175 8/1950 Bremer 10947 3,298,765 1/ 1967 Rakich 10945 X I, KARL BELL, Primary Examiner 

